Karakoram–West Tibetan Plateau alpine steppe

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Karakoram-West Tibetan Plateau alpine steppe
Karakoram-West Tibetan Plateau alpine steppe.jpg
Karakoram-West Tibetan Plateau alpine steppe near Ladakh, India
Ecoregion PA1006.png
Ecoregion territory (in purple)
Ecology
Biome Montane grasslands and shrublands
Borders
Bird species172 [1]
Mammal species45 [1]
Geography
Area143,300 km2 (55,300 sq mi)
Countries India, China, Afghanistan and Pakistan
Conservation
Habitat loss1.4065% [1]
Protected18.28% [1]

The Karakoram-West Tibetan Plateau alpine steppe is a montane grasslands and shrublands ecoregion found in parts of Pakistan, China, Afghanistan, and India.

Contents

Setting

The Karakoram-West Tibetan Plateau alpine steppe is an area of high-elevation grasslands covering 143,300 square kilometres (55,300 sq mi). It is centered on the Karakoram Range, west of the Himalaya Range. It also includes nearby ranges, such as the Ladakh Range.

Climate

The mean annual precipitation in the ecoregion varies from 200 to 900 millimetres (7.9 to 35.4 in), 90 percent in the form of snow.

Flora

Deosai National Park in Pakistan. Deosai Plateau 2.jpg
Deosai National Park in Pakistan.

Most of this ecoregion consists of grasslands and herbaceous plants. Protected slopes and ravines contains Salix denticulata, Mertensia tibetica, Potentilla desertorum, Juniperus polycarpus, Polygonum viviparum, Berberis pachyacantha, Rosa webbiana , and Spiraea lycoides . Where vegetation ceases to grow, around 4,500 metres (14,800 ft), are found Delphinium cashmerianum, Glechoma tibetica, Silene longicarpophora, Potentilla fruticosa , and Nepeta spp.

Shrublands and woodlands are found in valley bottoms. These include Hippophae rhamnoides, Myricaria elegans, Salix viminalis, Capparis spinosa, Tribulus terrestris, Pegamum harmala, Sophora alopecuroides , and Lycium ruthenicum . A few remnant steppe forests of Juniperus seravschanica and Juniperus indica are still found here.

Fauna

Sheep in this ecoregion include the Marco Polo sheep, Tibetan argali, and urial. Goats include the markhor and ibex.

The sheep and goats, as well as smaller mammals, make this ecoregion excellent habitat for the snow leopard.

Both the brown bear and Himalayan black bear are found here.

Bird species richness is low. Common birds include Guldenstadt's redstart, Himalayan monal, rosefinches, raptors, and vultures.

Conservation

Much of the montane habitat in this ecoregion lies in protected areas. These include

See also

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Southeast Tibet shrub and meadows Ecoregion in the Tibetan Plateau

The Southeast Tibet shrub and meadows are a montane grassland ecoregion that cover the southeast and eastern parts of the Tibetan Plateau in China. The meadows in this region of Tibet are in the path of the monsoon rains and are wetter than the other upland areas of the Tibetan Plateau. The "high cold" alpine terrain is one of high species diversity, due to the relatively high levels of precipitation for the region. Precipitation is lower in the northwest, and hence the vegetation thins from shrub to meadow or even desert.

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Tibetan Plateau alpine shrublands and meadows type of regional vegetation

The Tibetan Plateau alpine shrublands and meadows ecoregion covers the middle transition zone between the northern and southern regions of the Tibetan Plateau. The region supports both cold alpine steppe and meadows across a broad expanse of the plateau. Wild deer, antelope, and sheep roam the grasslands, but the habitat is increasingly being used to graze domestic livestock.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Hoekstra, J. M.; Molnar, J. L.; Jennings, M.; Revenga, C.; Spalding, M. D.; Boucher, T. M.; Robertson, J. C.; Heibel, T. J.; Ellison, K. (2010). Molnar, J. L. (ed.). The Atlas of Global Conservation: Changes, Challenges, and Opportunities to Make a Difference . University of California Press. ISBN   978-0-520-26256-0.